Michael Gordon American, b. 1990

In Michael Gordon’s hyperrealism practice, he draws his motivation from a deep desire to connect with the human experience on a visceral level. The artist aims to give the viewer that brief moment of doubt, questioning the nature of what they are seeing: a photograph or a drawing.
Graphite and charcoal allow him to capture the nuances of form, light, and shadow, where each detail reveals the complexity of unique patterns that make up the human form and figure. Ultimately, Gordon’s work is a pursuit of mastery over technique, but more importantly, it is an exploration of connection—bringing life to paper in a way that resonates with others, inviting them to pause and engage with the subtle emotions captured in every stroke and mark of the pencil, in order to feel the essence of the subject on paper.

The artist hopes to push the boundaries of what can be achieved with traditional mediums, while deepening his own understanding of the human form and spirit. His drawings give viewers a chance to reflect on what a little patience, consistency, and effort can yield in any endeavor.
Exhibiting locally and internationally, Michael has devoted much of his practice to drawings that display a life-like quality with the goal of leaving the viewer questioning whether or not his work is a photograph. He’s inspired by artists like Thomas Eakins and Andrew Wyeth, and in modern times, CJ Hendry and Emanuele Dascanio. On the other, he’s exploring the world of color with his unique twist on the traditional Japanese marbling technique, "Suminagashi".

Gordon was recently awarded with the Cris Contini Contemporary’s special Artist in Gallery prize during the opening night of the prestigious Arte Laguna Prize. He then exhibited his work from 17 Nov to 08 Dec 2024 in Venice in the iconic spaces of the Arsenale Nord in Venice. The gallery chose him because of his great technical ability to portray human strength and a sense of contemporary human reflection.